“When you’re skiing in Europe, it’s very normal to have independence when you’re dining on the mountain,” says Joy Vik, who lived with her husband, Geir, in his native Norway for several years after they were married.

Ultimately, the couple were drawn back to Park City—the place they fell in love—to open the Viking Yurt.

“Whether you’re in the Dolomites in Italy or in the mountains of Norway, each location is totally affected by the personality of the owner, rather than by the style of the resort and surroundings,” she says.

The Viking Yurt shatters expectations for what’s possible in a temporary structure on a mountain.

Located at 8,000 feet on the slopes of Park City Ski Resort, the restaurant is indeed a literal— and beautiful—yurt.

How do you get up there? Dinner guests begin the night with a 23-minute sleigh ride up the mountain.

It can be chilly on the way up, but warm blankets and the fact that a snow cat is towing the sleigh means guests can arrive comfortably, even in blizzard conditions.

In the moonlight, the alpine forest is a uniquely serene place, and the setting provides a perspective of the mountain vastly different from a typical ski day.

“There are incredible views of the city lights the entire way up,” Joy says.

“It’s remarkable.”

The trip up is merely the beginning of the Viking Yurt experience.

Once there, you’re on what Joy describes as a “Nordic mountain fine-dining adventure.”